Document Yb29zg87LKg3LQLmVr5nzV4n

March 9 1951 Dr. Robert A. Kehoe College of Medicine University of Cincinnati .den Avenue Cincinnati 19 Ohio Dear Bob: Attached is a memorandumwhich explains the reason for my request. I would like to call this reporter and disarm him by giving him ail the studies and data we have on measurements of lead from exhaust gases. This is purely preventive medicine which I think would be effective in this case. Would you be so kind as to send nie enough material so that I can talk to him and then, if he is not convinced, refer him to you. I dan*t think the latter will be necessary. Iw Attch. Ralph! C. Champlin P.'S. The more technical it is, the better. It will confuse him. , N6937 cc: Mr. E. C. Champlin-^ Mr. E. E. Locher MEMOBMDtJM March 9, 1951 Subject* Ekroth Laboratories Inc. 60 Jreeman Street Brooklyn iT. Y. This will supplement our discussion on the WORLD TELEGRAM1S air polution campaign. I called Mr. Ekroth of the subject company to obtain data on dirt concentration. On the telephone, at least, he seemedtobemostfriendly' ana :cooperative.. After providing the .information- I requested, he started a long conversation on the nature of the materials which contaminate NewYork City*s air. -. He mentioned lead compounds, but only as a subject which they might study in the remote future. In fact,1he asked if v;e had any device for measuring the lead content of air. Since our instruments have been publicised, I admitted that we did and since he evinced immediate interest, I sug gested that he might better discuss the matter with the mana ger of our Safety Department* I assured him that we would cooperate within our means to do so, but explained that our lead-in-air analyzers were not ordinarily available outside the antiknock compound industry because they required trained operators and accurate calibration. He heartily agreed with this statement and closed this part of the conversation with the thought that he might call us if lead became a topic of interest. I gather he was somewhat appalled by the problem of determining how much lead dust is attributable to the decomposition and flaking of house paint as compared with other sources. On the whole,,I would say we have an excellent . contact with Mr. Ekroth if it is ever needed in the future. WGB:c j . G. Ball, Jr,